Documents identified by PDF (Portable Document Format) requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed and printed. If you do not already have the Adobe Reader, it can be downloaded for free from Adobe.

Rate Study

GENERAL INFORMATION

Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4519.8, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is required to submit a rate study addressing the sustainability, quality, and transparency of community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities to the Legislature by March 1, 2019. To assist with this effort, DDS contracted with health-policy consulting firm Burns & Associates, Inc. to conduct the rate study with DDS oversight. An overview of the rate study including project principles and tasks, as well as information on Burns & Associates, Inc., is available here.

CONSUMER & FAMILY SURVEY

In response to requests from stakeholders and advocates, and consistent with the Department of Developmental Services’ (DDS) efforts in coordinating a comprehensive rate study, DDS is conducting a survey of consumers and family members to further inform the rate study. DDS has contracted with Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) to facilitate the survey, and worked with an advisory committee consisting of consumers and family members in the development of the survey.

The on-line survey is available here, and will be available to complete until 10/28/2018.

If you would like to read the full survey prior to completing it on-line it is available here.

After the conclusion of the survey, public comment meetings will be held throughout the State to provide an opportunity for family members and consumers to further share input on the rate study. The dates, times and locations of these meetings will be posted on the DDS website.

The Department encourages all consumers and family members to participate in the survey.

Below are the links to information about the Consumer & Family Survey translated into California's Medi-Cal threshold languages. They provide a direct link to the survey found on SurveyMonkey. The survey is available in all the languages below, through the use of a drop-down menu within the survey.

PROVIDER SURVEY FOR SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

As a next step to help inform the Rate Study, Burns & Associates (B&A) is conducting a provider survey to collect data regarding providers' service delivery designs and costs for providers of Specialized Therapeutic Services (service codes 115, 116 and 117). Due to the unique nature of these services, these providers were not asked to participate in the recently concluded provider survey. Service providers are being asked to return these surveys by October 12, 2018.

All providers of specialized therapeutic services are encouraged to complete the survey, even if they are only able to provide some of the information requested.

The survey and instructions, including instructional webinars, and contact information for technical assistance is available here.

SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SURVEY: SUMMARIES OF SURVEYS COMPLETED

Information on the number of provider surveys completed by regional center and by service code are available below:

PROVIDER SURVEY

To inform the rate study, Burns & Associates, Inc. is conducting a provider survey to collect data regarding providers' service delivery designs and costs. Because the survey will provide critical information to help inform the rate study, it is important that as many providers as possible respond to the survey, even if they are only able to provide some of the information requested. Service providers were previously asked to return the survey by July 6, 2018, however the survey due date has been extended to August 3, 2018.

All providers of services included in the rate study are encouraged to complete the survey. A list of all services included in the rate study is available here.

The survey and instructions, including instructional webinars, and contact information for technical assistance is available here.

NEXT STEPS

The survey is just one component of the overall rate study that must be submitted to the Legislature by March 1, 2019. The rate study will also incorporate other information, including but not limited to costs for comparable services provided outside the regional center system, to help in developing recommendations for proposed rate models. The outcome of these efforts, including findings and draft recommendations, will be presented to the Developmental Services Task Force for review and comment before the final rate study is submitted to the Legislature.